Roses and Thorns

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Roses go to the Air Force Academy Marching Band who were, in Aspen for the annual Wintersköl parade and also gave an impromptu performance last weekend at the Aspen High School basketball games against visiting Moffat County. The Air Force cadets dazzled the crowd as they filled the Aspen gym with a lively array of sports-venue classics. But it was the band’s spirited rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” that brought down the house and drew a standing ovation.

A crown of thorns goes to the entire Aspen community for the thrashing of the warming hut on West Buttermilk during a recent full-moon party. Yes, the entire community takes the hit for this one: Aspen Skiing Co. estimates that up to 150 people climbed to the hut — and there weren’t enough of them to tell the rest not to treat the place like a pigsty? Skico was right to close the hut — “due to lack of Respect!” as a sign at the building said. Ski patrollers shouldn’t have to clean up somebody’s puke in the warming hut the following morning. We certainly hope the punks responsible for the problems will grow up by the next full moon on Feb. 14. More respect and responsibility, please.

A rose go to the Doctor’s Garden recreational pot shop, the first of its kind to open in the Roaring Fork Valley. The store opened Wednesday, a day after Carbondale’s town board of trustees approved its business license. Now if only Aspen can get a pot shop sometime in February. ... Tick, tock, tick, tock.